The Top Ten lists in Medicine feature papers published during the last
two years (excluding review articles) that were most cited in current
journal articles indexed by
Thomson Reuters
during a recent two-month period. Papers are ranked according to the
latest bimonthly citation count. The articles below are accompanied by
expert discussion and analysis (including comments from the
papers’ authors) written by one of four veteran
scientist-journalists and longtime ScienceWatch.com
contributors.
September/October 2008
In
Two Different Cancers, Success with Drugs New and
Old
by David W. Sharp
Recent cancer therapy has shown progress on two fronts: in chronic
myeloid leukemia, the drug dasatinib has shown benefit in patients
who are resistant to imatinib, while in gastric cancer,
perioperative chemotherapy with the older agents epirubicin,
cisplatin, and fluorouracil has been shown to improve survival when
compared to surgery alone.
View Article
March/April 2008
Investigating
Angiogenesis Inhibitors and Other Drugs in Kidney
Cancer
by David W. Sharp
A comparatively recent treatment for renal-cell carcinoma involves
tyrosine-kinase-inhibiting agents, including sunitinib, bevacizumab,
and temsirolimus, to block angiogenesis and tumor-cell proliferation.
Studies suggest that, compared to interferon, these agents improved
survival.
View Article
January/February 2008
Bevacizumub: A
Poke in the Eye for Macular Patients?
by David W. Sharp
Injection of the vascular endothelial growth-factor inhibitor bevacizumab,
normally used in cancer, has been effective in treating the eye disorder
known as age-related macular degeneration, but, in view of safety concerns
that are currently under study, the manufacturer has curtailed its
availability for this application.
View Article
